MEMORIALS: ARTHUR MERLIN CLIMENHAGA

Arthur Merlin Climenhaga was born to John and Emma Climenhaga on February 21,1916, on the campus of Messiah College, Grantham, PA, which his grandfather had founded. He was saved at age 14 in a Sunday evening evangelistic service in Oklahoma where his father was a minister. Arthur received his B.S.L. from Upland College in Upland, CA in 1936; his B.A. from Pasadena College (CA) in 1937; his M.A. from Taylor University in 1938; and his S.T.D. from Los Angeles Baptist Theological Seminary in 1944. Arthur married Arlene Brubaker in Ashland, OH on August 27, 1938. Arthur served as president of Upland College from 1939-44, and then he and Arlene went as missionaries to Rhodesia and Zambia in 1945, where he was District Superintendent, then General Superintendent and Bishop of the Brethren in Christ Church. They returned to the United States in 1960 because of Arlene's health. Arthur was then president of Messiah College in Grantham, PA (1960-64), during which time the college received its accreditation. Arthur served as Executive Director of the National Association of Evangelicals from 1964-67, while living in Wheaton, IL.

Arthur next served as Bishop of the Brethren in Christ Church in California. There Arlene died in 1968 after being cared for by her niece Lona Sue Brubaker, who had recently returned from seven years of missionary service in Zambia. On September 27, 1969, Arthur and Lona Sue Brubaker were united in marriage in Ashland, OH. Arthur served as Dean of Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, OR from 1973-80, and was General secretary of the Brethren in Christ Church. Then in 1980 the Climenhagas returned to Ashland, OH, where Arthur headed the doctoral program at Ashland Theological Seminary until retirement in 1983.

Arthur penned a number of books in Africa, as well as for Beacon Hill Press and Moody Press. During his retirement he spoke, taught, and preached as needed. He was a member of the Evangelical Theological Society for 40 of his 89 years. Arthur died on April 25, 2005 at Blackwater Falls, WV, after a walk with Lona. He had no children, but leaves his wife Lona in Mechanicsburg, PA; brother David with his wife Verna Mae of Messiah Village, PA; sister Leota Climenhaga of Peekskill, NY; and many nieces and nephews.

Copyright Evangelical Theological Society Mar 2006
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